Match-box.



- H. C. FLEMING & W. FQRQYSTER.

MATCH BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.18, 1909'.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

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IINTTv TATES PAENT FFIQE.

HENRY G. FLENIING AND WILLIAM F. ROYSTER, OF DENISON, TEXAS.

I/IATCI'I-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY C. FLEMING and WVILLIAH F. Rovs'rnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Denison, in the county of Grayson, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains toanake and use the same.

This invention relates to match boxes and more especially to match boxes designed to deliver a limited number of matches at a time.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved general construction of match box wherein matches will be picked up and delivered no matter at what angle they may be with relation to the delivering device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means in such a box whereby the matches therein may be subject to such vibrations as will cause them to properly feed down within the box.

IVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists, in general, of a casing provided with a novel delivering cylinder in combination with means to prevent an excess of matches being delivered at one time.

The invention further consistsin certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,-like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and :-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a match box constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the mechanism for rotating the cylinder.

The numeral 10 indicates the bottom of the box and this is preferably supported on a stand 11 so that this bottom normally is at an angle of about 45 with the horizontal.

To the bottom 10 are attached sides 11 each of which is provided at its upper end and inside face with a groove 12 wherein slides a door 13. The sides 11 extend upwardly at their lower ends as indicated at 14 and are provided with suitable perforations wherethrough passes a shaft 15 on which is mounted, between the sides, a delivery cylinder 16 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 18, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Serial No. 484,159.

provided with certain grooves 17 which extend parallel with the axis of the cylinder and other grooves 18 which extend at angles to said axis. At one end of the shaft 15 is a small belt pulley 19 and upon a short shaft 20 fixed to the sides upon which the pulley 19 is located is a similar pulley 21 provided with a finger grip 22. A belt 23 connects these two pulleys.

Between the upper end of the box and i a point adjacent the drum 16 extends a top 24: and on this top is mounted a spring plate 25 which extends over and bears lightly against the drum 16. In order to cover the drum and the end of the plate 25 there is provided a hinge cover 26 which extends well down toward the lower end of the bottom 10, being there turned outward to permit the escape of delivered matches.

In the operation of this device, the casing is filled with matches and it is intended that this casing shall be of such size as to receive the contents of a full box of matches, the end of the box being cut or torn away to permit its introduction within the casing. The matches having been placed in the casing, the door 18 is closed and the device is then ready for use. Upon turning the operating wheel 22 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, the drum is caused to turn in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. By reason of the peculiar arrangement of the slots 18 and 17 the matches will be agitated within the casing and ifany match be out of parallel with the axis of the cylinder it will be picked up by one of the diagonal slots 18 while the slot 17 will pick up such matches as may be parallel with said cylinder. These matches are carried over the top of the cylinder and dropped on the bottom of the box from whence they fall out through the opening between the cover 26 and said bottom, any tendency to deliver more than one match in each slot being effectually counteracted by means of the plate 25.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the character de scribed and for the purpose specified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a match box, a casing, a delivery cylinder mounted therein provided with grooves angularly disposed with reference to the axis of the cylinder and arranged in spaced relation in series around the periphery of said cylinder, and means for rotating the cylinder.

2. In a match box, a casing provided with a downwardly inclined floor, a delivery cylinder at the lower end of said casing provided with grooves angularly disposed with reference to the axis of the cylinder and other grooves parallel to said axis, said grooves being arranged in spaced relation in series around the periphery of the cylinder, and means to rotate said cylinder.

3. In a match box, a casing, a delivery cylinder mounted therein provided with grooves angularly disposed with reference to the axis of said cylinder the several grooves being at different angles thereto, and means for rotating said cylinder.

4. In a match box, a casing, a delivery cylinder mounted therein provided with grooves parallel to the axis of said cylinder and other grooves at varying angles thereto, said grooves being arranged in spaced relation in series around the periphery of the cylinder, and means to rotate said cylinder.

5. In a match box, a casing, a delivery cylinder mounted therein provided with peripheral grooves parallel to the axis of said cylinder and other grooves at varying angles thereto, and means to rotate said cylinder; in combination with a resilient guard plate held lightly against the top of said cylinder to limit the number of matches delivered.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signa- 3'5 tures in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY C. FLEMING. WVILLIAM F. ROYSTER. 

